by Alexis Davie
Keegan’s fingers pinched playfully at her nipple, and Kristy moaned again, knowing that she would climax in mere seconds.
They fell into a rhythmic dance, using the storm as their beat, Keegan’s movements long and deep inside her core. His mouth suctioned against her neck, and Kristy felt a slight nip as she released against him, crying out in pleasure.
“Good girl,” Keegan whispered, tightening his grip against her body, reaching up to lace her arm around his head.
Kristy trembled as the pleasurable sensations still pulsated from her center. She noticed Keegan’s movements became harder, more defined, and she felt her release build up again. She was so wound up that it only took a few thrusts from Keegan’s hard shaft inside her to make her cry out as she approached her climax at the same time as him.
Keegan groaned, his hold becoming vice-like, and Kristy felt herself filling with his scalding seed as she released once more, his own body shaking in sync to hers.
Kristy tried to melt herself closer to him, but she was sure she had never been closer to anyone than she was to him in that moment.
They silently gathered themselves, their quivering subsiding, and Keegan carefully slid out from her. Kristy fell onto her back and stared up at him in wonderment.
“What are you doing here?” she breathed. “And… what…?”
She didn’t know how to finish her thought, but she could tell by the expression in Keegan’s blue eyes that she did not have to elaborate.
“I should ask you the same thing,” he answered dryly. “What in God’s name are you doing out here? Why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going?”
“The Swedes knew where I was going,” Kristy replied defensively. “And the weather reports didn’t call for heavy rain tonight.”
“And thank God that the Swedes knew,” Keegan told her sternly. “You should have known better than to come out here alone, anyway. It’s the first rule of kayaking.”
Kristy couldn’t help but laugh. “Everything you know about kayaking, you learned from me,” she reminded him, running her hands across his naked chest. She bit on her lower lip and stared up at him. “But how did you know to come looking?” she insisted. “You’re not an employee.”
I’m not sure what you are anymore, she thought to herself. She wasn’t worried—just curious and intrigued to learn about Keegan. She wondered if Jeremy knew his secret, and if there were really others like him, like Sylvie had said.
Keegan shifted his eyes away, and Kristy could see a glimmer of embarrassment in his eyes.
“I know you don’t see us as anything more than a casual thing,” he said gruffly. “But when you’re away at school, I miss you. There is no one else when you’re away, and I feel protective of you when you’re here.”
Kristy sat up and studied his face, her heart hammering in her chest. “You mean… you follow me?” she gasped. She waited for a spark of anger to follow, but to her surprise, she found herself flattered to realize it was true.
“I have always looked out for you,” Keegan replied. “Ever since you were a child. But you blossomed into this incredibly intelligent, beautiful woman, and I could not stop keeping an eye on you. I’m sorry, is that… is that weird for you?”
It was not. In fact, it was the most comforting thing Kristy had ever heard in her life.
She reached up to touch his humiliated face, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
“It’s not weird for me,” she quietly answered. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I will always be here for you,” Keegan said. “Like I’ve always been.”
They stared at each other, unspeaking.
After a moment, Keegan cleared his throat. “About the other thing,” he began, but Kristy shook her head.
“It’s unimportant right now,” she murmured, laying her head against his chest. She was beginning to feel hypnotized in the wake of their lovemaking and the crashing waves of the shore. His heartbeat was strong and quick, adding to her sense of tranquility.
It didn’t matter what he became on a full moon, or whenever he shifted into the wolf Kristy had seen. He was still the same man she had lusted after since she was a young girl.
Keegan brushed a strand of hair out of her face, kissing the top of her head.
“So,” he started. “I have been thinking…”
Kristy hummed in response.
“Maybe we should tell Jeremy about us.”
She whipped her head up and gaped at him. “Really?” she whispered. “You really want to do that?”
He nodded. “I want to be with you. In my mind, we already are. There is no reason to hide it from everyone else anymore.”
Kristy eyed him, biting on her lower lip. She would be lying if she said the thought of being with him didn’t fill her with happiness, but was she ready to tell her brother?
The same fears she’d had regarding their relationship before still existed, despite Keegan’s confessions.
“Does Jeremy know you’re a…?” She let her sentence die, unsure of what was the appropriate word to use.
“Lycan?” Keegan finished for her. “No.”
Kristy’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“What?” Keegan laughed. “I don’t tell him everything.”
She closed her mouth, a small smile forming over her lips.
What have you got to lose? she thought. You finally got the boy you’ve always wanted, and he is your fearless protector.
Kristy snuggled back against Keegan’s naked body and nodded.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Let’s tell the entire world.”
She felt Keegan relax against her, and she realized that he had been worried she would refuse. It amused her to think he wasn’t as fearless as he seemed to be.
* * *
Dawn brought the end of the storm, and Kristy woke up, lovingly gazing at Keegan’s face.
It still seemed like what had happened between them in the cave had been a dream, but as his blue eyes fluttered open, she saw that it had not been.
“The rain stopped,” she told him.
He nodded. “It usually does,” he replied, smiling.
Kristy sighed deeply. “We better get back before they do send search and rescue out for us,” she muttered, grabbing for her sodden clothes.
“You’re probably right. I imagine they were probably out all night looking for you.”
Kristy groaned suddenly and looked at Keegan in despair. “Crap!”
“What?”
“I have to tell the Swedes that I didn’t find their ring,” she said, remembering why she had come to the cave in the first place. “And what’s worse is that if it was at the sandbar and I missed it, the rain probably washed it away by now!”
Keegan snickered slightly.
“What’s so funny?” Kristy demanded. “I don’t want to tell them I couldn’t find it! I feel like I’m going to spend the entire day grovelling for forgiveness, even though it’s Inga’s fault for bringing the stupid thing with her in the first—”
“She found the ring.”
Kristy stared uncomprehendingly at Keegan. “What?”
“Inga found the ring in her bag,” he repeated. “She had apparently put it there for safe-keeping and forgot. It was only until they got back that she remembered.”
“What?” Kristy cried again. “You have got to be kidding me!”
Keegan laughed and shook his head. “Nope.”
Kristy didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
But as she looked at her lover, she knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be, and she did not regret it for an instant.
Maybe what I owe Sven and Inga is my gratitude, she thought.
It was exactly then that Kristy realized that it was actually possible for people to be as happy as the newlyweds had appeared to be; after all, she was experiencing that same happiness in that moment.
* * *
THE END
5
Deep in the
Woods
“No.”
The word was singular and flat, with no room for argument, but that didn’t stop Tara from pressing the issue.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Tara demanded. “It’s Penelope’s birthday and she’s been planning this for months! Everyone is going to be there!”
“This is the first I’m hearing about it,” Ali countered. “So it can’t be that big of a deal.”
Tara scoffed. “She knew you’d say that,” she argued. “That’s why I’m telling you last minute—so you can’t back out. You have to come tomorrow night!”
“She can have a party like a normal human being,” Ali replied. “There is no way in hell I am going camping, and you cannot make me. It’s not happening.”
“What are you going to say to her?” Tara challenged, eyeing the stunning brunette with annoyance. “That you don’t want to break your nails?”
Ali scowled at the assessment and narrowed her blue eyes dangerously. “Tara, do I ever ask you to go to karaoke?” she asked, her voice low.
“Of course not! I hate karaoke,” Tara answered, and Ali nodded at her.
“Now think about how much you hate karaoke and multiply that by about fifty,” she said, “and you will maybe be in the ballpark of how much I loathe camping. I am not going!”
Tara grunted and threw her hands up in exasperation.
“All right!” she retorted. “You can tell Penelope yourself. You can break her heart and miss the event of the century.”
Tara spun to leave her friend on the sidewalk, storming off in anger.
Ali watched her walk away, groaning inwardly.
The event of the century, she thought bitterly. It’s a death sentence weekend, is what it is.
She tried to see the virtues of such an affair, but she could not see past the idea of being away from the sanctuary of her room at the sorority house.
Whatever happened to celebrating our twenty-first birthdays with limos, bar hopping, and then blackout drinking? she thought mournfully. Suddenly everything has to be so much more complicated than it needs to be. Damn you, Penelope, and your outdoorsy shit!
Despite what she had told Tara, Ali knew she was going on the trip. The backlash from not going would be far too great.
I will never hear the end of it. They are on my case about enough crap as it is. I have to go.
Gritting her perfect white teeth, she made her way down Folsom Street toward the Kappa Pi Mu house on Pine Street.
It was a beautiful summer day, and Ali had been looking forward to relaxing on the picturesque campus with a good book, but her mood was shattered by the unexpected appearance of Tara and her wretched camping announcement.
Her long legs were glowingly tan beneath a pair of white capris, and her dark hair fluttered in the slight Colorado breeze. Ali, though, could see no beauty in any of it.
I guess I’m going camping this weekend, she thought miserably.
* * *
There must have been fifty people at the campgrounds when Ali arrived with Tara and Christine.
Tents had been haphazardly pitched, and even though it was not quite noon, bonfires had already been started.
“It’s like Coachella out here,” Ali grumbled, and both of her friends laughed.
“It’s going to be huge,” Tara agreed. “There are going to be twice as many people here by nightfall, you’ll see.”
Great, Ali thought, annoyed. Too many people, sleeping on the cold, hard ground, and freezing to death. Sounds like a party to me. Not to mention the mosquitos. There’s always mosquitos.
She wisely held her tongue as they unloaded the trunk.
“I’ve got beer!” Christine announced, and Ali’s hand shot out to be the first in line.
“I thought you might want this,” Tara chuckled, handing her a can from the cooler.
In spite of her resolve to be grumpy, Ali had to admit that the charged energy of her surroundings was infectious: people milled about, joking and talking. She supposed this wouldn’t be all that bad.
She knew a great deal of the people there, but she couldn’t see Penelope anywhere.
Taking a swig of her can, she pulled a duffel bag over her shoulder.
“Where should we set up?” she asked, and Christine pointed toward a clearing where there seemed to be less people. “Works for me,” Ali said agreeably, although if what Tara had mentioned was true, their somewhat secluded spot would be overrun by nightfall anyway.
I must look for peace where I can find it, she vowed.
Men and women called out to them in greeting as they trekked toward the far side of the field, lugging their tent and cooler along.
Out of nowhere, a mass of energy thrust itself onto Ali’s lean frame, almost toppling her to the ground.
“You came!”
Barely catching her footing, Ali grabbed onto Penelope and balanced herself upright, grinning at the over-the-top greeting.
“Of course I came,” she replied begrudgingly. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Tara and Christine snorted in unison, but Ali ignored them. No matter what they said, they knew she was a friend above all else.
And if I have to sacrifice my comfort for a couple nights, so be it.
“Happy birthday, Penelope!” she cried, hugging the pixie-faced redhead. “But promise me next year you’ll do something indoors?”
“Oh, ye of little faith,” Penelope chortled, linking her arm with Ali’s as they walked. “You’re going to have an incredible time. Mark my words.”
“Oh, yeah?” Ali challenged, dropping her baggage at the site of their tent. “How can you be so sure?”
Penelope smiled enigmatically and glanced at Tara and Christine, who had fallen behind and out of earshot.
“I have a feeling,” she murmured. “There’s a rumor about this mountain, but you already know it, don’t you?”
Ali felt warmth coursing through her body as she studied Penelope’s face.
“Are you talking about…?” she trailed off, and her tiny friend giggled, gazing toward the peak just beyond.
“They’re supposed to roam around on nights of the full moon,” Penelope whispered, and Ali cocked her head to the side.
It was the same conversation she and her sorority sisters had had at Kappa some time ago—Sylvie had fed them this weird story about shifters and mates and their duty as members of the sorority—but she still wasn’t sure how much she bought into it.
“Guess what tonight is?” Penelope continued, making a spark of nervous excitement bolt through Ali’s spine.
“Is that why you planned this insane trip?” she asked, her brow furrowed in disbelief.
Penelope nodded enthusiastically.
“So, keep your eyes open, ladies!” she sang loudly. “You never know who you’re gonna meet!”
She danced away, leaving Ali to stare after her, shaking her head.
I don’t know about all that, she thought, laughing to herself. But maybe if I met one guy while I’m here, it wouldn’t be a total waste.
She smacked her arm as a fly landed on it and grimaced.
It was already starting.
* * *
The festivities grew with each passing hour, and the crowd was having a blast.
By mid-afternoon, Ali had caught a decent buzz, since she still hadn’t eaten, but Christine seemed to notice her pale face and decided to whip up a meal.
“Slow down on the beer, Ali!” Tara cried. “It has to last until Sunday!”
“We can drive to the liquor store,” Ali replied lightly. “I know it feels like we’re in the middle of nowhere, but civilization isn’t far off.”
“Oh, Ali,” Christine sighed. “C’mon, go mingle! Some guys are playing volleyball over there. Check them out for me and let me know how they rate.”
Ali scoffed but inadvertently found herself looking toward where a group of her peers had begun a volleyball tournament. She shrugged, slightly tipsy, and wandered off to
watch the gleaming muscles in the sunshine.
Ali had to admit that she was not having a bad time: she was among her friends, after all, and there was liquor. It felt more like a party than a camping trip, what with no one sitting around the fire singing “Kumbaya.”
Still, she kept fighting with the bugs, and the more she drank, the more she needed to use the non-existent washroom.
“Go into the woods!” Tara had exclaimed, exasperated, and Ali had shuddered, eventually having no choice but to follow her advice.
It wasn’t that Ali was a princess; far from it, actually. Although she looked the part—with her pin-up model’s body and insanely pretty face—she was more of a homebody than anything.
If given the choice, she would stay in and read or watch an old movie, instead of trapezing through the jungle like Tarzan, looking for a spot where she could urinate.
Ugh, I hope I brought enough bug spray, she thought as she plopped down on the grass next to a girl from her political science class.
“Hey, Ali!” Suzanne chirped. “Great party, huh?”
Ali tried to look enthusiastic as she nodded in fake agreement, but she was sure her expression fell flat. Suzanne didn’t seem to notice.
“We’re going on a night trek up the mountain at nightfall,” she continued. “The view is incredible. You want to come?”
Ali almost snorted, but then she stopped herself.
Are there less bugs on the mountain? she wondered.
Even if there were, it was still hiking, and Ali did not do hiking.
“Maybe,” she replied evasively. “Come find me when you’re ready to go.”
Suzanne seemed happy with the response and nodded, turning back to watch where her boyfriend was spiking the volleyball into the ground.
Ali cast Suzanne a sidelong look for a moment and then glanced at her long-time beau.
Suzanne and her boyfriend Greg had been together for almost three years, having met as freshmen at school. The pert blonde was attractive enough, with her big blue eyes and easy smile, but Greg was devastatingly handsome, and Ali had always found the two an odd match.